U.S. patent application number 13/696459 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-02 for method for changing an operating mode of at least one device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Volker Blaschke, Tobias Lorenz, Timo Lothspeich, Juergen Schirmer, Clemens Schroff. Invention is credited to Volker Blaschke, Tobias Lorenz, Timo Lothspeich, Juergen Schirmer, Clemens Schroff.
Application Number | 20130111074 13/696459 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44146443 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130111074 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Blaschke; Volker ; et
al. |
May 2, 2013 |
METHOD FOR CHANGING AN OPERATING MODE OF AT LEAST ONE DEVICE
Abstract
A method for changing an operating mode of at least one device,
multiple compare registers, each having a bit pattern, being
associated with the at least one device, is provided in which a
data packet transmitted via a network is received by the at least
one device, a content of the data packet being compared to the bit
patterns of the associated compare registers, and in which a change
in the operating mode of the at least one device takes place when
the at least one device detects conformity of a bit pattern of the
associated compare registers with the content of the data
packet.
Inventors: |
Blaschke; Volker;
(Ludwigsburg, DE) ; Schirmer; Juergen;
(Heidelberg, DE) ; Lothspeich; Timo; (Gerlingen,
DE) ; Lorenz; Tobias; (Schwieberdingen, DE) ;
Schroff; Clemens; (Kraichtal, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Blaschke; Volker
Schirmer; Juergen
Lothspeich; Timo
Lorenz; Tobias
Schroff; Clemens |
Ludwigsburg
Heidelberg
Gerlingen
Schwieberdingen
Kraichtal |
|
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
44146443 |
Appl. No.: |
13/696459 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
April 7, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2011/055422 |
371 Date: |
January 11, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
710/14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02D 50/40 20180101;
G06F 3/00 20130101; H04L 12/40039 20130101; Y02D 30/50 20200801;
H04L 2012/40273 20130101; H04L 12/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/14 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/00 20060101
G06F003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 6, 2010 |
DE |
102010028665.6 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A method for changing an operating mode of at least one device,
multiple compare registers each having a bit pattern associated
with the at least one device, the method comprising: receiving, by
the at least one device, a data packet transmitted via a network, a
content of the data packet being compared to the bit patterns of
the associated compare registers; and changing the operating mode
of the at least one device when the at least one device detects
conformity of the bit patterns of the associated compare registers
with the content of the data packet.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, in an event of a
change in the operating mode, the at least one device is changed at
least one of from a hibernation or sleep mode to a wake-up mode,
and from a wake-up mode to a hibernation or sleep mode.
13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: defining
multiple devices within the network as a group of devices, at least
one compare register having a bit pattern identical to that of the
devices being associated with all devices of the group; and
changing operating modes of the devices of the group when the
devices detect conformity of the identical bit pattern with the
content of the received data packet.
14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
activating or deactivating a compare register via the bit pattern
stored in the compare register.
15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: chaining
multiple compare registers to one compare register.
16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: storing a
standard bit pattern in the compare registers after the at least
one device is switched on or reset.
17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one
device is configured as a node of a cable-bound network for
transmission of data.
18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one
device is configured as a node of a network situated in a motor
vehicle.
19. A device with which multiple compare registers, each having a
bit pattern, are associated, the device configured to receive a
data packet which is transmitted via a network, to compare a
content of the data packet to the bit patterns of the associated
compare registers, and to perform a change in an operating mode
when the device detects conformity of the bit patterns of the
associated compare registers with the content of the data
packet.
20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the compare registers
are configured as configurable memory cells.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is the national stage entry of
International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2011/055422, filed on
Apr. 7, 2011, which claims priority to Application No. DE 10 2010
028 665.6, filed in the Federal Republic of Germany on May 6,
2010.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for changing an
operating mode of at least one device designed as a node of a
network and a device of this type.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0003] In networks, different nodes or users are connected to each
other, among which data, and thus information, may be exchanged via
the network with the aid of signal transmission. The present
invention relates to a possibility of operating nodes of a network
in a suitable manner.
[0004] In this regard, a "wake on LAN" (WOL) function for waking up
nodes of a local, spatially limited network (LAN) is known from the
PC technology. This function normally enables waking up a single
node in the network in a targeted manner. In this process, a
so-called "magic packet" is transmitted to a network interface card
of a node, and a node, designed as a computer, for example, is
switched on upon receiving the magic packet. This packet contains
the hexadecimal value "FF" six times consecutively; immediately
thereafter, the uninterrupted 16-fold repetition of the physical
address, normally the Media Access Control (MAC) address, of the
node appears. The magic packet may occupy any position within a
frame in a message via which it is transmitted. This makes it
possible to transmit the message using any desired protocol, for
example, Ethernet (cable-bound data network), IP (Internet
Protocol), TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), or UDP (User
Datagram Protocol).
[0005] However, waking up multiple nodes using a single message is
not provided. The hardware address of the node to be woken up must
also be already known to the transmitter, since no higher protocols
are supported in a sleep mode.
[0006] For a system to be able to be woken up via a bit pattern,
the receiving device must be active in a first layer (layer 1,
physical layer). The transmitting device may be off. Depending on
the implementation, it is now possible to recognize the bit pattern
and to supply it to a wake-up module. There are also
implementations which use the second layer (layer 2, data link) for
decoding.
[0007] Mechanisms which wake up nodes via a bus system are also
known from the automotive technology. In a CAN (Controller Area
Network), wake-up occurs via detection or confirmation of a bus
activity, and in FlexRay, via transmission of a defined code.
However, waking up individual nodes or groups of nodes in a network
is currently not supported in vehicles.
[0008] In FlexRay, the bit pattern for waking a node is fixedly
predefined. Here, it is referred to as a pattern. However, no
configuration possibility is provided for this pattern. The
structure of the pattern for FlexRay is "idle-0-1-0-1" or
"idle-0-idle-0-idle." Each phase (idle, 0, 1) has a length of 4
.mu.s. This pattern may be placed directly on the bus or it may be
the payload of a frame. In the latter case, the 1 of the BSS (byte
start sequence) is ignored.
SUMMARY
[0009] With the aid of the present invention, a so-called multicast
waking and a broadcast waking may be implemented in a network
designed as an Ethernet which is normally cable-bound, thus
allowing multiple or possibly all nodes or users of a network of
this type to be woken up. In the case of multicast waking, at least
two and therefore multiple nodes may be woken up starting from one
point of the network, typically via a multipoint link. In the case
of broadcast waking, all nodes of the network may be woken up via
transmission of messages. The nodes described herein are usually
devices for data processing, which may interact with each other as
nodes of the network if they are connected to each other via the
network.
[0010] Having the possibility of waking multiple nodes
simultaneously using a message as an integral part of a data
packet, the network management previously used in the vehicle may
continue to be used even after an Ethernet is introduced as the
network in the vehicle.
[0011] Within the scope of the present invention, at least one node
is configured in such a way that at least one of the following
scenarios is supported: [0012] waking one node when different
special messages, and thus data packets, are received, [0013]
waking a selection of nodes or a group of nodes, which are
interconnected via an Ethernet, using a certain message, and/or
[0014] waking all nodes interconnected via an Ethernet using a
certain message.
[0015] The device according to the present invention is designed
for performing all steps of the above-presented method. Individual
steps of this method may also be performed by individual,
components of the device. Furthermore, functions of the device or
functions of individual components of the device may be implemented
as steps of the method. In addition, it is possible to implement
steps of the method as functions of at least one component of the
device or of the entire device.
[0016] Within the scope of the present invention it is provided
that the wake-up logic of a device, which may be designed as a node
or user of an Ethernet or of a cable-bound network for transmission
of data, may be extended by additional compare registers, which may
be designed as configurable memory cells. These additional compare
registers may be provided exclusively for storing the bit pattern,
which are compared to the contents of the data packet received in
order to change or modify the operating mode of the device. These
additional compare registers thus represent an extension of the
device, which otherwise may have other compare registers for other
purposes. Accordingly, multiple compare registers having bit
patterns are integrated in one device. These compare registers may
be configured in different manners.
[0017] By configuring the compare registers it is possible to
define multiple bit patterns, via which the network device,
normally designed as a node, after being set into the sleep mode
may exit this mode again. When used in the automotive industry, a
node or a device is designed as a sensor, an actuator, or a control
unit for at least one component of a motor vehicle.
[0018] For this purpose, the device or the node compares the
content of data packets received within transmitted data streams
and thus transmitted messages for conformity with the contents of
the compare registers and thus with multiple bit patterns, which
are provided for the at least one device.
[0019] As soon as the device detects conformity of the content of
at least one compare register, in general of the bit pattern, at
any point of a data packet within a data stream, the change in the
operating mode occurs, i.e., from a sleep mode to a wake-up mode
and thus to a normal operating mode in which the device is able to
execute all functions.
[0020] In the sleep mode, which may also be referred to as a
hibernation mode, the device normally executes only a few basic
functions, so that the device is in a kind of stand-by mode.
[0021] The content of a transmitted data packet normally includes
multiple pieces of data; a piece of data may be coded and/or
configured as a bit pattern as described above which causes at
least one device to change its operating mode. Bit patterns of this
type, which are transmitted with the data packet, may also be
referred to as so-called change bit patterns.
[0022] If multiple devices are configured using one bit pattern,
which is identical for all of these devices, it is then possible to
wake up this group of devices simultaneously using the same bit
pattern. Since several compare registers are configured for one
device, a device may be woken up by different bit patterns in
different compare registers which are associated with this device.
This makes it possible, for example, to define a device designed as
a node as belonging to multiple groups of nodes within the
network.
[0023] The size of a compare register and/or a bit pattern stored
therein is arbitrary and may be selected according to the
requirements provided with regard to a data transmission within the
network. Based on a current standard, 42 bytes=6 bytes+6*6 bytes
are conceivable for the size of the compare register and/or of the
bit pattern stored therein.
[0024] Multiple bit patterns described above, which are stored in
the compare registers, are associated with one device. Using at
least one bit pattern, identification of a device and thus, for
example, association of a device with multiple groups of devices is
thus possible. Accordingly, a bit pattern of this type is typically
provided for identifying a device within the network.
[0025] Furthermore, any configuration may also be integrated,
according to which a decision is made whether the content of a
compare register is to be used at all for the comparison. The
deactivation of a compare register may be controlled, for example,
via its content. It is thus conceivable that a configuration of a
compare register whose content includes only zeros results in
deactivation of the compare register. Alternatively or
additionally, a compare register may be deactivated if the bit
pattern has only zeros and/or includes a predefined structure. In
general, any other register value or another precautionary measure
is also conceivable for this purpose. A compare register may be
activated and/or a bit pattern to be stored in a compare register
may be generated with the aid of suitable measures if necessary at
any time.
[0026] To extend the configuration possibilities of compare
registers, the possibility of chaining and then connecting any
number of existing compare registers, and/or linking contents,
normally bit patterns stored in the comparison system, across
compare registers, may also be provided. It is thus possible to
also provide bit patterns which are longer than a single compare
register.
[0027] In another embodiment, the compare registers are populated
automatically using a standard bit pattern, which may be done
immediately after switching on or after resetting a device, and
then the bit pattern is stored in the compare register
independently from its mode. Manual configuration, for example, via
software, may then be omitted. In this case it is also conceivable
to provide an option for selecting the standard bit pattern. This
may be accomplished, for example, by connecting one or more pins of
the device designed as a node.
[0028] The compare registers may be typically integrated into any
memory technology, such as RAM, EEPROM, or FLASH.
[0029] Within the scope of the present invention it may also be
provided that a compare register is used for changing between any
two operating modes of a node.
[0030] Thus, in one variant of the present invention, in addition
to changing a device from the sleep mode to the wake-up mode and
thus to a normal operating mode via a message configured as a
wake-up message within a data packet, a change from the wake-up
mode to the sleep or hibernation mode is also possible. The
above-described method has sufficient operational reliability for
this purpose.
[0031] A functionality of this type of messages has previously been
made possible on higher open system interconnection (OSI) levels
and thus levels of a layer model according to the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO), but it requires an
appropriately high degree of software complexity.
[0032] With the aid of the present invention, it is also possible
to transmit, as the contents of a data packet, a bit pattern which
is identical for multiple nodes and thus devices in a multicast or
broadcast message and thus to change their operating mode.
[0033] The compare registers may be associated with the device
regardless of whether or not the device is connected to the
network. Typically, the device is designed as a node or user of the
network if it is connected to the network.
[0034] If a device is temporarily disconnected from the network,
after it is reconnected to the network it may be woken up by
receiving a data packet, whose content, i.e., change bit pattern,
is in conformity with the bit patterns of the compare registers of
the device for which the operating mode is to be changed.
[0035] In general, the devices of the network referred to as nodes
may be designed as so-called slaves, whose operating modes may be
typically changed by a higher-level device designed as a master by
transmitting data packets having suitable contents. It is, however,
also possible that the devices designed as slaves exchange data
packets among themselves within a network, thus being able to
mutually change and thus modify their operating modes.
[0036] In one possible exemplary embodiment of the method according
to the present invention, higher protocols such as a network
protocol (IP, Internet Protocol) or a transport protocol (UDP, User
Datagram Protocol) may be used for waking up the device from the
sleep mode. Alternatively or additionally it is also possible to
use the higher layers 3 through 7 for waking up the device.
[0037] The present invention may be generally used, for example,
for a vehicle designed as a motor vehicle, which includes a network
having a number of different devices.
[0038] Further advantages and exemplary embodiments of the present
invention are set forth in the following description and the
accompanying drawing.
[0039] It is understood that the above-named features and the
features to be elucidated below are usable not only in the
particular given combination, but also in other combinations or
alone without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] FIG. 1 schematically shows a network, which includes
multiple examples of devices according to the present invention
when an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the present
invention is executed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] The present invention is schematically illustrated in the
drawing on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and described in
greater detail in the following with reference to the accompanying
drawing.
[0042] FIG. 1 schematically shows a network 2, which includes
multiple devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16. These devices 4, 6, 8,
10, 12, 14, 16 are designed for carrying out data processing
operations, normally computing operations.
[0043] In addition, these devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 are
connected to each other via network 2 via physical connecting
elements 20, which in this case are designed as cables. It is thus
possible for devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 to exchange data,
which are typically provided via electrical signals via physical
connecting elements 20 of network 2.
[0044] It is provided that the above-described network 2 is
situated in a vehicle, which is designed herein as a motor vehicle
19 and surrounded by a dashed line.
[0045] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention
described here, it is provided that each device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,
14, 16 has multiple configurable memory cells 22, which are
symbolically represented here as rectangles. Multiple associated
compare registers are integrated into each device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,
14, 16 within the configurable memory cells 22 illustrated here. It
is furthermore provided that in each compare register integrated
into one of memory cells 22, a bit pattern 100, 102, 104, 106, 108,
110, 112, 114, 116, 118 is stored. Such a bit pattern 100, 102,
104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 may be generated and/or
modified dynamically during operation.
[0046] In detail, it is provided in the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention that in a first device 4 a first compare register
has a first bit pattern 100 and a second compare register has a
second bit pattern 102. In a second device 6, a first compare
register has first bit pattern 100, a second compare register has a
third bit pattern 104, and a third compare register has a fourth
bit pattern 106. In a third device 8, a first compare register also
has first bit pattern 100, and a second compare register has a
fifth bit pattern 108. In a fourth device, it is provided that a
first compare register has first bit pattern 100 and a second
compare register has a sixth bit pattern 110. In a fifth device 12,
it is provided that a first compare register has first bit pattern
100, a second compare register has third bit pattern 104, a third
compare register has a seventh bit pattern 112, and a fourth
compare register has an eighth bit pattern 114. In a sixth device
14, a first compare register has first bit pattern 100, a second
compare register has seventh bit pattern 112, and a third compare
register has a ninth bit pattern 116. In a seventh device 16, a
first compare register has first bit, pattern 100, and a second
compare register has a tenth bit pattern 118.
[0047] Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows a data packet 120, schematically
illustrated by an arrow, which in this case includes multiple bit
patterns as content, which are referred to here as so-called change
bit patterns 122, 124, 126, 128. This data packet 120 is to be
transmitted within network 2 via connecting elements 20 of network
2. The bit patterns designed as change bit patterns 122, 124, 126,
128 within data packet 120 are provided for causing a change in an
operating mode of at least one of devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14,
16.
[0048] Using the exemplary embodiment of the method described here
it is possible to perform a change in an operating mode of at least
one device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 connected to network 2. At least
two, and thus multiple, compare registers having bit patterns 100,
102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 stored therein are
associated with the at least one device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16.
When carrying out the method, data packet 120, transmitted via
connecting elements 20 of network 2, is received by the at least
one device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and the content of data packet
120, i.e., change bit patterns 122, 124, 126, 128, is compared to
bit patterns 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 of
the compare registers, which are associated with devices 4, 6, 8,
10, 12, 14, 16. A change in the operating mode of the at least one
device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 occurs when the at least one device
4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 detects or confirms conformity of its own
bit pattern 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 of the
associated compare registers with the content of received data
packet 120. For this purpose, devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16
compare bit patterns of change bit patterns 122, 124, 126, 128 to
the corresponding bit patterns 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112,
114, 116, 118 stored in the compare registers.
[0049] As FIG. 1 shows, the compare registers of all devices 4, 6,
8, 10, 12, 14, 16 have first bit pattern 100. Now, if first bit
pattern 100 is transmitted having data packet 120 as the content
via one of change bit patterns 122, 124, 126, 128, operating modes
of all devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 are changed.
[0050] In addition, it is apparent from FIG. 1 that each compare
register having third bit pattern 104 is associated with second
device 6 and fifth device 12 within a configurable memory cell 22.
Under this prerequisite, second device 6 and fifth device 12 form a
first group within network 2. The operating modes of both of these
above-named devices 6, 12 may now be changed by transmitting third
bit pattern 104 via data packet 120 as one of change bit patterns
122, 124, 126, 128.
[0051] Furthermore, fifth, sixth, and seventh devices 12, 14, 16
share the feature that a compare register having shared seventh bit
pattern 112 is associated with each of the configurable memory
devices 22 of three above-named devices 12, 14, 16. Accordingly,
fifth, sixth, and seventh devices 12, 14, 16 form a second group
within network 2. Operating modes of these three devices 12, 14, 16
of the second group are changed in one embodiment of the method by
transmitting seventh shared bit pattern 112 provided for devices
12, 14, 16 of the second group, via data packet 120, as one of
change bit patterns 122, 124, 126, 128.
[0052] In addition, each device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 has an
individual bit pattern 102, 106, 108, 110, 114, 116, 118 provided
only for particular device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16. In detail,
first device 4 has in this case individual second bit pattern 102,
second device 6 has individual fourth bit pattern 106, third device
8 has individual fifth bit pattern 108, fourth device 10 has
individual sixth bit pattern 110, fifth device 12 has individual
eighth bit pattern 114, sixth device 14 has individual ninth bit
pattern 116, and seventh device 16 has individual tenth bit pattern
118.
[0053] Above-named bit patterns 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112,
114, 116, 118 may also be changed dynamically during the operation
of devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16. It is thus possible, among
other things, to flexibly define and thus change as needed an
association of a device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 with a certain
group within network 2.
[0054] If, in one exemplary embodiment of the method according to
the present invention, one of above-mentioned individual bit
patterns 102, 106, 108, 110, 114, 116, 118 is transmitted having
data packet 120 as one of change bit patterns 122, 124, 126, 128,
only one operating mode of the particular device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,
14, 16 is changed, as soon as a particular device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,
14, 16 receives the particular associated individual bit pattern
102, 106, 108, 110, 114, 116, 118.
[0055] Within the scope of the method, various operating modes of
devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 within network 2 may be changed and
thus modified by transmitting particular selected bit patterns 100,
102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 within data packets
120.
[0056] It is normally provided that at least one device 4, 6, 8,
10, 12, 14, 16, changes from a hibernation or sleep mode to a
wake-up mode upon receiving a bit pattern 100, 102, 104, 106, 108,
110, 112, 114, 116, 118, which is identical to one of change bit
patterns 122, 124, 126, 128 of a data packet 120.
[0057] Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible that in
the event of an intended change in an operating mode, a device 4,
6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, is changed from a wake-up mode to a
hibernation or sleep mode upon receiving a bit pattern 100, 102,
104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 associated with these
devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 as the content of data packet
120.
[0058] In network 2 schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, it is
provided, without limiting the generality of the description, that
first device 4 is designed as a so-called master within network 2,
and all other devices 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 are designed as
so-called slaves within network 2.
[0059] Accordingly, in the present exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, data packet 120 is transmitted by first device
4, designed as a master, to the other devices 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16
designed as slaves, so that the operating modes of devices 6, 8,
10, 12, 14, 16 are changed according to the bit patterns 100, 102,
104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 transmitted as the contents
of data packet 120.
[0060] It is, however, also possible that, starting from first
device 4 as the master of network 2, this device 4 is able to
change its own operating mode, as long as either bit pattern 100 or
102 as one of change bit patterns 122, 124, 126, 128 is transmitted
as a content within data packet 120. Normally, all devices 4, 6, 8,
10, 12, 14, 16, designed as slaves, may transmit data packets 120
having change bit patterns 122, 124, 126, 128 as the contents and
thus cause the operating modes of other devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,
14, 16 to change.
[0061] Since multiple bit patterns 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110,
112, 114, 116, 118 may be associated with a device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,
14, 16, it is possible to define this device 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14,
16 as belonging to multiple groups of devices 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14,
16 and thus nodes within network 2.
[0062] Thus, second device 6 belongs to two groups, since first bit
pattern 100 and third bit pattern 104, among others, are associated
with this device 6. First bit pattern 100, third bit pattern 104,
and seventh bit pattern 112, among others, are associated with
fifth device 12, so that fifth device 12 is associated with and
therefore belongs to three groups. First bit pattern 100 and
seventh bit pattern 112 are each associated with sixth device 14
and seventh device 16, so that these two devices 14, 16 belong to
the same two groups.
* * * * *